Water is indispensable for all life on Earth. As populations grow and economies develop, the water demand intensifies, leading to concerns over its mismanagement. This issue is not confined to a few regions but is a global challenge affecting both developed and developing nations. However, its impact is more so felt in developing countries like Pakistan, where a combination of factors exacerbates the strain on the country’s water resources.
Pakistan, a predominantly agrarian country, relies heavily on water for agriculture, industry, and domestic consumption. This, along with exponential population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, has led to increased demand for water in the region. Climate change further increases water-related challenges, altering precipitation patterns and melting glaciers, upon which Pakistan heavily relies for freshwater supplies.
Agriculture accounts for the largest share of water usage in Pakistan. While simple, the traditional flood irrigation method results in substantial water loss due to evaporation and runoff. Moreover, cultivating water-intensive crops exacerbates the strain on limited water resources. Inefficiencies in water management within the agricultural sector are compounded by inadequate infrastructure, outdated technologies, and a lack of incentives for farmers to adopt water-saving practices.
Industrial activities also contribute to water-related issues in Pakistan. Their rapid expansion, particularly in urban centres, has increased the demand for water for manufacturing processes, cooling, and sanitation. Many industries discharge untreated wastewater back into rivers and streams, polluting water sources and further reducing their usability for agriculture and domestic purposes.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing water-related challenges, both the public and private sectors in Pakistan have begun initiatives to promote water stewardship and conservation. The public sector is working on developing a number of policies to regulate industrial wastewater discharge and encourage industries to adopt cleaner production technologies.
In parallel, the private sector has taken proactive steps to address the problem. Many companies in Pakistan are investing in water-efficient technologies, recycling wastewater, and engaging in community-based water management projects.
In 2021, Nestlé Pakistan launched its Waters Pledge, through which its Waters Business has committed to lead the regeneration of the water cycle to create a positive water impact everywhere it operates by 2025. This initiative builds on their 2017 Caring for Water-Pakistan (C4W-Pakistan) program, which focuses on innovative solutions through three key areas: factories, communities, and agriculture.
While the tobacco industry is not particularly water intensive, the all-pervading impact of climate change and the consequent disruptions in our water ecosystem are challenges to which no entity is immune. BAT PTC has, therefore, been seen to steadily decrease its water use and increase water recycling for several years through carefully planned and executed improvements in its water infrastructure. The Enercon Daily Management System (Enercon-DMS) and Sustainable Tobacco Program (STP) help to optimize water use in their factories and leaf-growing areas. The company’s Integrated Work Systems (IWS) help to optimize water use in all factories and sites by implementing a range of initiatives to save water, such as eliminating leakages and increasing water recycling, including reusing the water from manufacturing processes for utilities, cleaning, and bathroom facilities.
The writer studies at Lahore University of Management Sciences, majoring in Economics and Political Science.
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